Iranian Provincial Channels Increase Pro-Palestinian Programmes

Iranian provincial TV channels Khuzestan and Esfahan began broadcasting earlier than usual today to air pro-Palestinian programmes and documentaries about the Iran-Iraq war.

Today is Quds Day, the last Friday of Ramadan, designated by the late Ayatollah Khomeyni as an international day of support for the Palestinian people. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are being held in the capital Tehran and major cities in all Iranian provinces.

The provincial TV channels started their programmes at around 0900 gmt. Esfahan TV replaced its usual Friday morning programmes, which usually include light entertainment, sports, music and songs, by a documentary on the Iran-Iraq war, 1980-88. This year’s anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war has coincided with Ramadan and Quds Day, and provincial channels have been linking the two events. Esfahan TV showed archive pictures of the war and interviewed veteran commanders and soldiers who took part in the war. The commanders explained the tactics used during the war to defeat the forces of the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Husayn. Iraqi forces had occupied Khorramshahr and other cities in the south and west of the country.

Khuzestan TV broadcast a dubbed Arabic TV film called “The Wounded Olive” about the life of a Palestinian family who live in the occupied territories. The film showed Israeli soldiers breaking into homes, hitting young Palestinians and showed scared little children. Khuzestan TV also broadcast a revolutionary song in Arabic about the situation in the occupied territories.

Originally published by Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Khuzestan Provincial TV, Ahvaz, in Persian 0900 26 Sep 08.

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